Jonathan Approves N5.7bn For 2011 Post Election Violence Victims

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the release of a total of N5,747,694,780.00 to nine states of the federation for direct disbursement to those who suffered losses of properties, means of livelihood and places of worship in the post election violence of 2011.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati who announced this Thursday said government’s decision was to assist those who suffered loses during the crisis as recommended by the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu panel that was set up after the crisis.

The states to benefit from the money, according to Dr Abati,are, Bauchi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, Jigawa, Kastina, Kano, Adamawa and Akwa-Ibom.

Dr Abati explained that the interest of those who died in the course of the crisis would be accommodated by the federal government.

It will be recalled that following the post election violence and civil disturbances in some states after the April 2011 elections President Jonathan set up a Panel of Enquiry headed by Sheik Ahmed Lemu to among other things, identify the spread and extent of losses suffered across the country.

The committed submitted its report whose recommendation was adopted by the Federal Executive council which directed the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing was mandated to assess the reported losses and damage to properties in all affected states.

The Special Adviser to the president noted that based on the Ministry’s report, “President Jonathan has approved the release of funds to nine of the 14 affected states as follows: Bauchi; N1,574,879,000.00; Sokoto, N55,888,506.00; Zamfara, N93,253,485.00; Niger, N433,375,875.00; and Jigawa, N208,667,634.00.

Others include: Katsina , N1,973,209,440.00; Kano, N944,827,000.00; Adamawa, N420,089,840.00 and Akwa Ibom N43,504,000.00.

The presidential spokesman explained that” Inspection and assessment of damages and losses suffered are yet to be carried out in Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Kaduna and Nasarawa states as modalities and further instructions for the exercise are still being expected from the state governments.

“Funds to cover the losses sustained by victims of the post election violence in these five states will be approved and released at the conclusion of the assessment exercise” he said.

Dr Abati said the President directed that the executive governors or deputy governors of the respective beneficiary states would chair the Implementation Committee for the disbursement of the funds to beneficiaries, while representatives of the state government, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development are members.

The Secretary of the Sheik Lemu Panel would serve as secretary of the implementation committee.

 

Churches, Activists Drag President Jonathan To UN Over Pardon To Alamieyeseigha, Homosexual Rapist

World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have dragged the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government to the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) expressing “serious concerns about the state pardon granted former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha by President Goodluck Jonathan.”

The groups said they “consider this to be entirely inconsistent with the country’s international human rights and anti-corruption commitments, and the promises made by the government of Nigeria to the United Nations during its Universal Periodic Review in 2009.”

The complaint was submitted to the UN as part of an update to the submission made by the groups to the UPR this month.

The 2009 UPR asked the government of Nigeria to pursue its “fight” against corruption so that “all its citizens” can enjoy peace, health and security. The government of Nigeria accepted all the recommendation.

WEA and SERAP said that, “However, despite these commitments to the international community, the government of Nigeria has not taken seriously its expressed commitment to combat corruption.”

The groups also said that, “By granting pardon for Alamieyeseigha the government has also seriously undermined the integrity and efficacy of the fight against corruption, eroded the credibility of public institutions (in particular anti-corruption institutions and agencies), undermined the deterrent effects of punishment for corruption, and engendered public cynicism.”

According to the groups, “The granting of pardon will also lead to a vicious cycle of corruption and impunity of perpetrators, and this can only continue to rob the government of its capacity to deliver services to the poor, and ensure that corrupt public officials keep the proceeds of their misconduct. This is double jeopardy for the victims of corruption in the country.”

The groups said that “This shows the government’s lack of political will to genuinely combat high level official corruption in Nigeria, and sends a wrong message that certain individuals who are close to the government will enjoy impunity for their misconduct and will be above the law.”

“Because corruption has been an intrinsic part of the way successive governments have operated, it will be impossible for the country to achieve development, sustainability and end poverty and discrimination if corruption persists,” the groups also said.

“We are also concerned that the granting of pardon amounts to a fundamental breach of the constitution of Nigeria, which among others requires the president to eradicate all corrupt practices and abuse of power. We hope to see the Universal Periodic Review of Nigeria reflect the concerns outlined in our submission (and this update), and include in its outcome document the following recommendations addressed to the government of Nigeria”:

a. Rescind without further delay the alleged state pardon granted former Bayelsa State Governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha

b. Ensure full repatriation and recovery of the stolen public funds by Diepreye Alamieyeseigha

c. Ensure full transparency and accountability in government institutions

d. Improve financial oversight of government’s expenditure

e. Build judicial capacity to enhance the prosecution of corrupt public officials

Mr. Alamieyeseigha was detained in London on charges of money laundering while he was governor in September 2005. He escaped from the UK in December 2005. He, however, pleaded guilty in court to a six-count charge in July 2007, and was sentenced to two years in prison on each count charge.

WEA is a network of churches in 129 nations that have each formed an evangelical alliance and over 100 international organizations joining together to give a world-wide identity, voice, and platform to more than 600 million evangelical Christians

SERAP is a Nigerian based human rights and anti-corruption NGO.